Benjamin abraham



(Modem B. ABRAHAM.

FEATHERED HAT.

No. 269,371. Patented De0.19, 1882.

a x a I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN ABRAHAM, OF NEW .YORK, N. Y.

FEATHERED HAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,371, dated December 19, 1882.

Application filed August- 19,1882. (Model) T 0 all whom it nmy concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN ABRAHAM, of New York city, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feather Hats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention applies to hats or bonnets, more especially for ladies wear, in which the exterior or covering of the hat is formed of feathers, and which are usually made in the simple round-cap shape. Heretofore such feather hats have been usually made from a mass of small loose quill-feathers, which have been fastened or cemented to the frame-web or covering fabric of the hat, so as to form a compact layer or coating of feathers, enveloping its exterior, and thus forming the ornamental covering thereof. Now, according to my invention, I form the hat of birds skin dressed with the plumage attached, so that the skin,'with its flesh side inward, forms the shell or fabric of the hat, while its external plumage forms the finished or ornamental covering of the hat. A hat thus made forms a new article of manufacture, and is a great improvement over former feather hats, as its structure is much more durable and substantial, and its finish and appearance much more perfect and ornate, whileit is very light, neat,

and warm, and especially adapted for winter wear.

In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 presents a perspective view of my improved feather hat. Fig.2 is a cross-section thereof, illustrating one construction, and Fig. 3 is a similar section showing a modified construction.

In these views I have represented a hat of the simple cap shape, as this shape is most popular in this class of hats, and is the one which I contemplate to Inake more generally; but of course the invention is not confined to any special shape.

According to my improvement, I procure the skins of birds which have been properly cured, tanned, or otherwise prepared, with the feathers or plumage attached, and from these skins form the hats in any suitable way, as hereinafter described. Such feathered skins will best be obtained from many of the large species of birds, and in most cases only those parts of the skin which contain the fine plumage, whether consisting of small quill-feathers or of down-feathers, should be selected-such as that from the neck, breast, belly, back,&c. Among the birds best suited to furnish the required skins may be mentioned the goose, swan, turkey, peafowl, and large marine birds. in some skins the plumage will be of a downy character, while in others it will consist of fine compact quill-feathers, and of course skins of either kind will be used, according to the quality or nature of the hats desired to be produced. Theskins ofbirds with a handsomelycolored plumage may be used withoutartificial dyeing or coloring, but dull or irregular plumage should be dyed onthe skin with any desirable artificial colors, thus enabling very fine effects to be obtained with the skins of cheap and common birds. The skins, being thus prepared as required, should then be cut into proper sizes and shapes to form the desired hats, and these shaped pieces may be then rendered soft and plastic by brushing over the flesh side a film of some sizing materialsuch as paste or glue. While this sizing is yet soft, but not sticky, the shaped pieces of the feathered skin may now be pressed or formed over hat-blocks of the desired shape, so as to make the skin conform thereto, and the skin may be tacked or otherwise fastened on the blocks, according to any ofthe usual methods of blocking or forming, and then allowed to dry, when the feathered skin will become fixed in the shape of the desired hat by the drying of the skin and hardening of the size, as will be understood. When thus dried the hat may be removed from the block and trimmed at the edges, when it will appear as in Fig. 2, after i which it may be wired and lined in the usual way, when it will be ready for the market.

l Vhere the skins are not large enough to make the hats in one piece, then of course a number of pieces may be used, united at the edges by cement or stitching, and the joints neatly concealed, which can be readily done, particularly if the pieces have been properly assorted and uniformly dyed.

lnstead of relying on the birds skin alone, with its coating of size, to form the shell or fabric of the hat, as just described, and as illustrated in Fig. 2, the skin may, particularl y if of delicate texture, be cemented, stitched, or otherwise fastened onto pressed frames of huckram or paper or other fabric or material, as represented in Fig. 2, the construction being otherwise the same, as will be understood.

It will therefore be readily appreciated that ahat thus uladefrom thefeathered skin of birds will form quite a novel article of trade, and while its construction will be finished and substantial, it will form a peculiarly neat and light head-covering, and present a very dressy and attractive appearance, audit' the skins be procured from some of the large common birds and properly dyed the manufacture will be rendered comparatively cheap.

In the drawings, a indicates the birds skin forming the shell of the hat; I), the plumage attached thereto and forming the ornamental covering. 0 in Fig. 3 indicates the auxiliary frame, which may sometimes be used as de- 20 scribed.

What I claim is-- 1. A hat made from the feathered skin of birds, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A hat made from the feathered skin of 25 birds, having its plumage artificially dyed or colored on the skin, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A hat having its ornamental exterior formed of the feathered skin of birds, with an 0 inner sustaining web or fabric on which the flesh side-of the feathered skin is affixed, substantially as herein set forth.

BENJAMIN ABRAHAM.

Witnesses CHARLES SPIRO, ADOLF ZIMMERMAM. 

